By Karese Laguerre, RDH
Upon graduating from dental hygiene school, I embarked on a career in dentistry with a heart full of hope and a desire to make a meaningful impact on the world. A decade later, my path has led me into an entirely unexpected direction, one that has not only reshaped my career but also transformed the lives of countless patients. It’s a journey I am compelled to share, and it underscores why every dental professional should consider embracing myofunctional therapy.
I often say that as parents, we typically present a highlight reel when discussing our children’s lives – soccer practice, dance classes, and academic achievements. But there’s another side to parenting, one filled with hidden challenges: recurrent ear infections, bedwetting, ADHD struggles, failed breastfeeding journeys, and more. These are the trials we typically keep behind closed doors, shielded from the world’s gaze.
My journey into myofunctional therapy began through the blessing of working with a pediatric dentist who introduced me to the world of airway-focused dentistry. Little did I know that this would be the catalyst for a profound transformation in my career and my understanding of oral health.
Myofunctional therapy, coined by B.E. Lisher, traces its roots back to the pioneering work of Dr. Alfred Rogers, a prominent figure in early 20th-century dentistry. Dr. Rogers, who trained under Dr. Edward Angle, the father of malocclusion, authored over 50 articles on muscle training, firmly believing that facial exercises and muscle training could reshape malocclusion.
Over the years, myofunctional therapy has evolved into a comprehensive approach that collaborates with orthodontics and dental appliances to address malocclusion and other related issues. As I delved deeper into this historic therapy, it felt like I was uncovering a well-kept secret that had the potential to change lives.
What became abundantly clear was that oral function played a pivotal role in cranial development, occlusion, nasal floor development, respiration, and even the foundation of digestion. Conditions I had observed in my dental hygiene chair, such as hyperactive gag reflexes, narrow arches, vaulted palates, tongue ties, tongue thrusts, and orofacial pain, now became profound indicators of underlying issues that needed addressing.
One personal revelation hit me the hardest. My own son, initially misdiagnosed with ADHD and medicated, was, in reality, struggling to breathe at night. What he needed was a transformation in his orofacial function. The subtle shifts that myofunctional therapy brought about in his breathing completely transformed him from a struggling, impulsive young boy who was at risk of failing the 5th grade into a confident young man who graduated high school a year ahead of his peers.
But the impact extended far beyond my own family. Patients who had once complained of anxiety and refused x-rays because of the discomfort caused by their small mouths now entered our office with excitement about bitewings, as their oral sensory mapping improved. It’s an incredibly powerful feeling to be a catalyst for change in patients’ lives, to help them break free from limitations they never knew they had.
Moreover, myofunctional therapy has the potential to reshape how we think about addressing the staffing challenges that often plague our field. Dental clinicians with physical limitations preventing them from performing traditional roles can still play a crucial lateral role in their patients’ lives by addressing and impacting their oral muscular function. In conclusion, my journey into the world of myofunctional therapy has been nothing short of transformational. It has illuminated the profound interplay between oral function and overall health, empowering me as a dental professional to effect change in ways I never thought possible. My story stands as a testament to the life-changing potential of myofunctional therapy, and I urge every dental professional to consider its integration into their practice – for the betterment of both their careers and the lives of their patients.
Ms. Laguerre will speak on this topic at the 2024 Florida Dental Convention on June 20-22 in Orlando. You can find more information on her courses at www.floridadentalconvention.com.
Beyond the Bite 